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Trump shooter failed to make school rifle team

More details are emerging of Thomas Crooks, 20, the man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump.

Crooks lived in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, about an hour's drive south of the Trump rally where law enforcement officials say he fired at the former president.

Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, according to a local media report and a video of the school's graduation ceremony.

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Jason Kohler, 21, who went to the same high school, told CNN that Crooks was bullied by other students and seemed to be a loner.

Crooks had "no facial expression" when he walked through the school hallways, Kohler said.

"He wasn't, like, with the clique, so he always had, I guess, a target on his back."

Other students mocked him for the way he dressed, such as in hunting outfits, Kohler said.

Another former student at the school, Sarah D'Angelo, remembered Crooks as "a quiet kid, not obviously political or violent in any way".

READ MORE: 'Very hectic, very fast': Trump rally attendees describe assassination attempt

READ MORE:Biden appeals for 'unity' after attempted Trump assassination

She said the only time he spoke with her was when their class was waiting for their graduation ceremony to start.

A third classmate, who asked not to be named, said that Crooks was very smart, took honours classes, and was shy.

She said that he had a group of friends who were fairly conservative, some of whom would wear Trump hats.

"There was definitely chatter about him just looking a little different," the classmate said of Crooks.

"Almost a retro nerd vibe."

Donald Trump shooting: How apparent assassination attempt unfolded

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Crooks tried out for the school's rifle team but was turned away because he was a bad shooter, Frederick Mach, a current captain of the team who was a few years behind Crooks at the school, said.

In Bethel Park, authorities blocked off streets around his home as a search was launched.

When reached by CNN, Crooks' father, Matthew Crooks, said he was trying to figure out "what the hell is going on" but would "wait until I talk to law enforcement" before speaking about his son.

Records show he was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania, but federal campaign finance reports also show he gave $US15 ($22) to a progressive political action committee on January 20, 2021, the day President Joe Biden was sworn into office.

This year's presidential election would have been the first he was old enough to vote in.

The FBI has not yet identified the shooter's ideology, but they are combing through his social media feeds and weapons.

So far, they have not found any threatening writing or social media posts.

READ MORE: Trump calls for unity, Melania labels shooter 'a monster'

They have received more than 2000 tips.

Crooks is so far believed to have acted alone and was not previously on FBI's radar.

FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate says threatening online rhetoric has been "ticking up" since the attempted assassination.

He says people are going online to pose as the shooter, who was killed by the US Secret Service.

Speaking at a press conference earlier, FBI Deputy Commissioner of Operations Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens would not guarantee that the gunman acted alone.

"I think it's too early to say that. We have one shooter tentatively identified, but we're not stopping there," he told reporters.

"We are absolutely not taking for granted that this was a lone wolf attack and so we would be looking at additional information that could point us to anyone else that may have had a hand in this.

"We're following up on a lot of information. It will be some time until we can conclusively say or answer that question."

READ MORE: 'Died a hero': Man killed at Trump rally identified as firefighter

Bivens said the agency's greatest priority was identifying the motive and whether other parties were involved in the attack.

"I think once the shooter is identified anyone that has specific information on that shooter, that would be very helpful also," he said.

The FBI said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

The ultimate sacrifice: The story behind the Wieambilla shootings

There are some days in the newsroom that stay with you, and December 12, 2022, was one of those days.

As the phones began ringing late that afternoon and the early details reached our desks of what was unfolding on the Western Downs, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I've spent the past 16 years delivering the news to Queenslanders but very few stories have left a mark on me as profoundly as this one.

It would be declared by authorities as "Australia's first Christian terror attack"; a cold-blooded execution of two young police officers and an innocent neighbour.

It left an indelible mark on Queensland and shook the nation.

It was just two weeks before Christmas when four constables were ambushed as they walked down a driveway on a routine missing persons callout in the small outback town of Wieambilla, west of Brisbane.

Two young officers were murdered, and an innocent neighbour was also gunned down.

The property turned into a battleground, with an hours-long gunfight ending in the deaths of the three killers.

https://omny.fm/shows/the-ultimate-sacrifice/the-ambush/embed?style=cover

The incident was shocking, and so too were the details that unravelled over the following weeks and months; a twisted tale of conspiracy theories, religious extremism, and teachers-turned-cop-killers.

This led police to the other side of the world, where the case crossed the desks of FBI agents and ended in an arrest in the United States.

The first two episodes of our new podcast, The Ultimate Sacrifice, are out today, with two more coming next week.

These first four episodes meticulously examine the events of December 12, 2022, and the investigation that followed.

In the first episode, we drive out to the crime scene and try to get a sense of the carnage that unfolded. These four young officers didn't know it, but they were walking into a trap. Two would never return home, but two managed to escape injured but alive.

Amongst the tragedy of that day are stories of bravery and heroism.

In episode two, we hear from someone whose life was shattered when gunshots and explosions broke the silence.

Kerry Dare is the wife of Alan Dare, the neighbour who went to investigate the chaos only to be shot dead by a gunman lying in wait. Now a grieving widow, Kerry has more questions than she does answers.

https://omny.fm/shows/the-ultimate-sacrifice/the-neighbour/embed?style=cover

A year and a half on, the haunting question remains: how did a routine callout lead to Australia's deadliest police shooting?

Starting July 29, the Coronial Inquest will set out to answer that question.

Along with my podcast partner and producer, Jess Lodge, we will take listeners inside the coroner's court as the inquest unfolds, sharing new details and previously unheard testimony in The Ultimate Sacrifice.

We are about to hear from dozens of witnesses, including police officers, experts, psychologists and family.

Evidence will be presented that has never been heard before; police recordings, 000 calls and crucial testimonies revealing the heroism and camaraderie displayed on that tragic day.

This podcast is our heartfelt exploration into the events of that unforgettable day and an earnest pursuit of answers. And as we uncover new evidence during the upcoming inquest, we hold the highest regard for Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold, those two young officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The Ultimate Sacrifice is available now wherever you get your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcasts). It is produced in a partnership between 9News and 9Podcasts.

You can download The Ultimate Sacrifice now.

The first two episodes are out now. The Ultimate Sacrifice is available now wherever you get your podcasts. It is produced in a partnership between 9News and 9Podcasts.

Shannen Doherty, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed star, dead at 53

Shannen Doherty, an actress who starred on the popular series Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed and documented her nine-year battle with breast cancer, has died. She was 53.

"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease," Doherty's publicist Leslie Sloane said in a statement.

"The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace," her statement continued.

LIVE UPDATES: Authorities rope off streets around Trump shooter's home

Doherty developed a devoted fan base with roles as Heather Duke in the 1989 cult classic film Heathers, as Brenda Walsh from 1990 to 1994 in the hit series Beverly Hills, 90210 and its subsequent spinoff 90210, and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed from 1998 to 2001.

Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, which went into remission two years later. In 2020, Doherty announced the cancer had returned, spread and was stage 4.

She shared in June 2023 with the news that her cancer had spread to her brain.

Doherty had been documenting her experiences with cancer in her podcast, Let's Be Clear with Shannen Doherty. The most recent episode streamed on July 8.

READ MORE: The diagram that shows just how close shooter got to Donald Trump

Doherty, who had been outspoken about living with cancer even as she was clear that it was incurable, kept that mindset as she talked about her plans for the future.

"I guess I'm in a mindset now of I need to make as much money as humanly possible in the next two years, bank it, put it with my investment place, build that so that A., I don't have to work and I only work when I really want to," she said this month. "I can also go on a lot more vacations. Then also when I pass away my mom's got a nice little next egg and I don't have to worry about her."

Her rise to fame

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Doherty's family moved to Los Angeles when she was a child and she caught the acting bug quickly.

She made her acting debut at age 10 with a role on the television series Father Murphy.

Her performance won notice by legendary actor Michael Landon, and she landed the role of Jenny Wilder on his beloved series, Little House on the Prairie.

Doherty honed her craft in various projects including the series Our House, the 1985 film Girls Just Want to Have Fun and the dark teenage comedy Heathers in 1988.

She leveraged her experiences as a child star to inhabit her biggest role yet, as feisty high school student Brenda on the immensely popular Aaron Spelling teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210.

READ MORE: Trump shooter's dad trying to figure out 'what the hell is going on'

That role, in which she burned up the screen opposite costar Luke Perry as her love interest Dylan McKay, made her a household name.

Doherty left the show after four seasons following reports of on-set tensions between her and some of her castmates.

She returned to the big screen in 1994's Almost Dead and 1995's Mallrats.

Three years later, Doherty reunited with Spelling for the series Charmed with costars Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs in which they starred as three sisters who were witches.

She left her role as Prue Halliwell on that show after three years and found work again on various movies including The Rendering in 2002 and View of Terror in 2003.

In 2008, Doherty reprised the role of Brenda Walsh in the CW reboot 90210 for seven episodes.

She later played herself in the meta-style reboot BH90210 in 2019, the same year she cameoed as a stranded motorist on the CW's Riverdale, which costarred Perry. He died at the age of 52 after suffering a stroke

In September of 2020, Doherty spoke to Elle Magazine about the feelings of gratitude she was focusing on amid her experiences with cancer.

"I try to treasure all the small moments that most people don't really see or take for granted," she said. "The small things are magnified for me. We have this endless well within us, and it's just about continuing to dig in that well for the strength to face adversity – and so that we can also see all the beauty."

Kate at Wimbledon in rare public appearance since cancer revelation

The Princess of Wales has arrived at the All England Club for the Wimbledon men's final, only her second public appearance since announcing she was diagnosed with cancer.

Kate, wife of heir to the throne Prince William, was expected to sit in the Royal Box at Centre Court during the championship match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday.

Since 2016, the princess has been the patron of the club that hosts the annual grass-court Grand Slam tournament.

READ MORE: Trump calls for US to 'stand united' after assassination attempt

Her ceremonial duties include handing out the winner's trophies after the singles finals, although she was not on hand on Saturday when Barbora Krejcikova defeated Jasmine Paolini for the women's title.

Kate revealed in March that she has cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.

Her lone public appearance since then was attending last month's birthday parade for King Charles III.

Before that event, she released a statement saying she was "making good progress" but still had "good days and bad days".

Prince William has been a regular at Wimbledon finals but was not going to be there on Sunday.

Instead, he planned to go watch England face Spain in the final of the men's soccer European Championship in Germany. He is the president of the English Football Association.

Queen Camilla, wife of King Charles III, visited Wimbledon on Wednesday.